Pressure on trade union rights in Ukraine intensifies

One of the most alarming manifestations of such pressure was the personal search and detention by security forces on April 9, 2025, of Federation of Trade Unions President Grigoryy Osovyy upon his arrival at the reporting and election conference of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Volyn Region. This detention, which showed a cynical disregard for human rights by law enforcement, deliberately disrupted his planned speech and communication with delegates representing more than 70,000 union members in the region.

This step was obviously intended to provoke destabilization at the conference, compromise the largest and most influential trade union association in the country – the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine – and to create an atmosphere of uncertainty on the eve of a key vote in the Verkhovna Rada on draft law No. 6420 on the transfer of trade union and other public organization property to state ownership, so that no one would have any doubts about its urgency. In addition, according to the plan developed by the authorities, the National Agency of Ukraine for the Identification, Search, and Management of Assets has already begun the immediate seizure of the Trade Union House in order to deprive the trade unions of their workplace, thus making their statutory activities impossible.

On April 10, the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv ruled to place the FPU President, member of the General Council and Vice-President of the International Trade Union Confederation, member of the Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation and the Pan-European Regional Council under house arrest in order to disrupt the internal and international work of the FPU.

Since the declaration of independence, the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine has consistently and fundamentally defended the right of trade union members for collective property created by their many years of activity.

Today's actions by the authorities are perceived as an attempt to finally complete the process of illegal and non-transparent alienation of trade union property, which today performs important functions, providing medical and sanatorium services to workers, military personnel, and shelter to internally displaced persons. The situation has caused deep concern not only in Ukraine but also in the international community, and requires public discussion and immediate response from state authorities and the President of Ukraine as the guarantor of the constitutional rights of workers and civil society.

These events are taking place contrary to the recommendations of the International Labor Organization, which has repeatedly called on the Ukrainian authorities and trade unions to sit down for negotiations and resume social dialogue with trade unions and employers in order to ensure transparent reforms in Ukraine.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine calls on all union members to unite, show solidarity, and take an active stance in defending their legitimate rights and interests, using all mechanisms provided by law, including legal, public, and international instruments of protection.

International Department